MR. PATRICK O'BRIENI beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the advantages granted to female typists and shorthand writers in the Civil Service by Treasury Minute of the 17th March, steps will now be taken to place male shorthand writers and typists on the permanent staff of the Civil Service, and to definitely fix their remuneration, annual and sick leave, which at present appears to be regulated on the same basis as men copyists, a class of Civil servants that has ceased to exist?
§ MR. HANBURYThere is no class of "typists and shorthand writers," either male or female, in the public service. 1204 The women typists to whom the Treasury Minute of 17th March, 1894, refers, obtain their status and privileges under that Minute as typists simply, and it is only in special cases that provision is made for a higher rate of pay to individual members of the class who may be employed in shorthand writing. There is no occasion for the creation of a corresponding class of men. Copying work, when not performed by women, is generally provided for by the employment of boy copyists or personal clerks, and in such cases the question of establishment does not arise. Where men, employed primarily for other duties, undertake shorthand writing in addition, they receive, extra remuneration for that service, as in the case of women typists. The few men who are engaged in the various Departments expressly as shorthand writers are paid according to the nature of their work, and their terms are more advantageous than those of the women typists.